A Crimson Shadow in the Pink Snow
It had been a very long time since he had watched the fluttering cherry blossoms with someone else.
Yujin looked down at the petal he had caught without thinking. In the past, no matter how hard he tried to catch one, they would slip through his palm as if teasing him. Now, he didn't even have to try. A bitter smile formed on his lips as he remembered those days.
For the past five years, he had avoided facing the past as much as possible. Facing it brought only sorrow. Remembering it brought only pain. Even though his tears had long since dried up, his chest still ached as if it were tearing apart.
Ever since he was left alone, he had never set foot in any place associated with his past. So when Lucia suggested going to the cherry blossom festival, Yujin had been bewildered. But he couldn't run away forever—and foolishly, he had even anticipated it as a date—so he found himself facing his past memories for the first time in years.
Surprisingly, it didn't hurt as much as he had feared. Longing and memories tangled together, leaving his chest slightly tight, but it wasn't a bad feeling. On the contrary, he felt a strange sense of peace.
Is that so...
Yujin brushed his hand, letting the petal drift away. The pink speck danced through the air in erratic patterns before settling on the ground.
Five years. It was plenty of time for the wounds of the heart to heal. Had he already forgotten all the pain of the past? Surely not. If he had, his maddening anxiety and the hatred he harbored toward the monster that took Yui away would have long since burned out.
Even now, his eyes grew bloodshot whenever he recalled that day. His chest burned with an uncontrollable rage. But he could endure it. Yes, he had learned to endure. The child who could do nothing but cry had finally learned to master his emotions.
Lucia. Is this what you wanted me to realize?
How long had it been since he last felt such peace? He had always felt hunted. No, he actually was hunted. By his past. By himself. That was why he had pushed himself through such brutal training, swinging his sword until his palms tore open.
But taking a step back and looking at himself, he realized how blindly he had been running without ever stopping to breathe. Lucia's words finally made perfect sense. Why she had told him he could lean on those around him. Why she had told him he wasn't alone.
It wasn't as if Lucia had brought him here knowing what this place meant to him. She probably just wanted him to rest and clear his mind. Yujin felt a sudden wave of embarrassment. Just how anxious and unstable must he have looked in her eyes?
She was a deeply thoughtful girl. He had already known that, but the realization struck him anew. To notice his inner turmoil after such brief interactions and show him such consideration...
"It's beautiful."
Those were the words Lucia had uttered as she held back her hair fluttering in the wind, gazing at the scattering cherry blossom petals. Yujin agreed with her. But he hadn't been thinking of the cherry blossoms. The pink petals falling like snow were certainly enchanting, but an even more beautiful presence had been standing right before his eyes.
...Now I understand.
Why his chest throbbed every time he saw her. Why his heart raced so fast. Why he had been afraid of her, yet yearned to be close to her. The reason was so simple it was almost laughable. I definitely... toward Lucia...
"S-She's... l-late."
The voice from below snapped Yujin out of his reverie. Looking down, his eyes met a deep navy blue. Aris was staring in the direction Lucia had gone.
"You're right. I wonder if something happened?"
He checked his watch; twenty minutes had already passed. Considering where the convenience store was, she should have been back by now. Had she run into some trouble? Anxiety pricked at him, but he decided to wait a little longer. She might have been held up by something unexpected. Perhaps she ran into an acquaintance, or maybe she had an urgent bathroom emergency. Given how rushed she had looked, the latter seemed highly likely. If so, it was only polite to keep quiet about it.
Yujin stared in the direction Lucia had gone before slowly lowering his gaze. He quietly observed Aris, who was fidgeting with her fingers right beside him, and let out a bitter smile.
She really looks just like her.
On the day of the entrance ceremony, he had almost tripped when he first saw Aris in the classroom. Except for her hair color, she was so identical to Yui that he had seriously wondered if they shared some long-lost bloodline. Of course, looking closely, they were different—just as siblings born to the same parents look similar yet distinct. Perhaps if he traced their family trees back a few generations, there might be some distant relation.
But she isn't Yui.
She was merely a lookalike, a completely separate person from Yui. Projecting Yui onto her just because of a physical resemblance was disrespectful to Aris. He used his left hand to restrain his right, which kept twitching with the urge to pat her head. That would be a boundary crossed.
Yujin let out a quiet sigh. Why did she have to wear a yellow dress of all things? Her face already looked so much like Yui's, and now even her outfit resembled his sister's. It was driving him mad.
Don't be a nuisance. Stop projecting Yui onto someone else. Their personalities are polar opposites anyway. Yui was always so bright and energetic.
He massaged his wrist, calming his racing thoughts. Aris stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye. Lacking the courage to look him straight in the face, she could only steal timid peeks at his profile.
This guy... what is his relationship with Lucia?
Because of the shocking scene she had witnessed in the infirmary, she had naturally assumed they were dating. Hugging from behind—no one would do that unless they were lovers. Yet, from what she had observed since then, they didn't seem to share such a deep bond. They spoke warmly, but that was all. They didn't even meet up separately after school. For a couple, their interactions were far too platonic.
Two days ago, when Lucia had asked Yujin to meet up over the weekend, Aris thought the moment of truth had finally arrived... but as it turned out, she had been invited along too. It wasn't because Aris had thrown a tantrum to join. Even if she had wanted to, her timid nature would never have allowed it. What if she acted too selfishly and Lucia ended up hating her? Just the thought made her heart shudder.
Today's outing had been Lucia's idea from the start. Aris had been utterly bewildered. If they're meeting on a weekend, isn't it a date? Then why am I here...?
If they're just friends, they wouldn't hug like that. But if they're lovers, they would have met up alone.
Aris pondered, trying to piece together the most plausible theory. If they really are dating... is it because they're still too shy to meet alone? Is that why she brought me along? Or what if this is all just my overactive imagination, and they really are just close friends?
Aris's face fell. She nervously twirled her hair and bit her lip. Every theory seemed plausible, yet at the same time, completely absurd. No matter how much she racked her brain, it was all just useless speculation. There was no way to find the answer on her own.
If she wanted to know the truth, the solution was simple. The person with the answer was standing right next to her. If she could just muster the courage to ask directly, she could put an end to this agonizing dilemma.
But...
If she were capable of that, she would have done it already. It was precisely because she couldn't that she was suffering like this.
Frey, what should I do?
『...』
She reached out to her other self as she always did, but no answer came. Only a heavy silence. It felt as if she were completely alone in her own mind. But she knew better. Frey was still there. She wasn't asleep, buried deep within the abyss like Aris once had been. Frey's consciousness remained right where it always was—watching the world through Aris's eyes, hearing through Aris's ears, and feeling through Aris's skin. She was simply refusing to speak.
Ever since the day she had unleashed that ruthless violence upon Lucia, Frey had maintained her absolute silence. Yet, even without words, a fraction of her emotions still bled through. Frey was... simply consumed by shame. She lacked the courage to face Aris, and above all, Lucia. The atrocity she had committed, swallowed by a momentary impulse, was a terrible, unforgivable sin.
『...』
And so, she remained silent, harboring a heavy weight in her chest. Aris did not press her. She understood Frey's hesitation. She had resolved to wait until Frey found the strength to apologize to Lucia. Ultimately, she could not rely on Frey's help today. She had to overcome this hurdle on her own.
...Alright.
Aris patted her own cheeks. Lucia always loved pinching her soft, squishy cheeks. Mimicking that familiar touch, Aris kneaded her face and lifted her head high. *Be brave. I can do this. I swore to protect Lucia from now on, didn't I? If I can't even handle something as simple as this, how am I ever going to protect her?*
Aris looked up at Yujin. With a height difference of nearly twenty centimeters, she had to tilt her head back significantly. She swallowed hard, her lips suddenly feeling bone-dry.
"U-Um..."
"Hmm? What's wrong, Aris?"
"W-Well..."
Her heart hammered against her ribs. Talking to anyone other than Lucia was an uphill battle. Her throat felt completely constricted, and nothing but a faint, airy wheeze escaped her lips.
"It's okay. Take your time."
Yujin offered her a gentle smile. *That smile... I really don't like it.* Had he bewitched Lucia with that very expression? The thought sent a sudden surge of heat straight to her head. *Ugh... Grrr...!* Fueled by a sudden spark of irritation, her constricted throat finally opened up. Aris blurted out, almost defensively.
"Y-Yujin, w-what kind of r-relationship do you h-have with L-Lucia—"
She couldn't finish. Aris froze, her expression turning completely blank. Her heterochromatic eyes trembled violently.
"...?"
Yujin frowned in confusion. The look in Aris's eyes was bizarre, shaking like a reed caught in a violent gale. *What's gotten into her all of a sudden...?* Realizing her gaze was fixed on something behind him, Yujin slowly turned around. *What could possibly be behind me—*
Click.
The sharp click of a heel echoed. Even though they were surrounded by the bustling noise of the crowd, that single sound cut through the din with chilling clarity, seizing control of the atmosphere like ink bleeding into water.
Click. Click. Click. The footsteps grew steadily louder, drawing closer.
"Oh my, look who we have here."
A girl strolled leisurely toward them, a parasol propped casually over her shoulder to block the glaring sun. Perhaps it was because the parasol was a deep, blood-like crimson, but the shadow she cast looked exactly like a pool of fresh blood.
"To think we'd cross paths in a place like this. I suppose our fates really are intertwined, aren't they?"
Slender arms and legs peeked out from beneath her puffy black dress. Opera gloves stretching past her elbows and pristine white stockings stood in stark contrast to the dark fabric. Her obsidian-black hair cascaded down to her waist, swaying gently with each step.
"You..."
The moment Yujin laid eyes on her, he felt his five senses freeze in an instant. He instinctively took a step forward, shielding Aris behind his back. His chest burned. His racing heart sent a torrent of adrenaline surging through his veins.
"Astaroth...!"
Yujin's voice seethed with rage. At his shout, the girl paused and waved her hand with childlike innocence.
"Hi, big brother. It's so good to see you again."
The girl behind the red fox mask let out a sweet, melodic giggle—as if she were truly, genuinely thrilled to see him.